Baltimore Orioles: Expectations of Jonathan Schoop for 2015
Sep 28, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jonathan Schoop(6) hits a home run during the fifth inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Schoop of the Baltimore Orioles completed his full rookie season in 2014. The second baseman produced a mixed back of successes and deficiencies.
So what can be expected now of Schoop after having put in a full season at the big-league level? I think there are reasonable hopes for a strong step forward, but first, let’s review the 2014 season.
The Good Stuff
Since the Baltimore Orioles always start with defense, we’ll do the same. And Schoop was simply outstanding, especially at second base. In 121 games with 551 chances, Schoop committed but seven errors. His defensive metrics are all above average, and nobody who watched Orioles games needs to look at any geeky sabermetic numbers to know that his arm is a total cannon beyond most any who have ever played second base.
You have to love the power numbers from the bottom of the order. He totaled 16 home runs (some off the top pitchers in the game) and 18 doubles among his 95 base hits. All of his home runs came from the bottom third of the order, nine of them from the ninth position.
The Bad Stuff
After a blistering spring training, the Orioles probably hoped he would hit for an average a good bit above the .209 that Schoop totaled for 2014. His OBP was also a measly .244. Add to this a strikeout total of 122.
Those who worry about his rookie year exposure and proximity to “The Adam Jones / Delmon Young School of Free Swinging” are not crazy to have such concerns.
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Schoop hit .191 after the All-Star break and batted only .155 in September. Clearly the length of the season got to him. However he did go 3-for-10 with a double and walk in the ALDS against the Tigers.
What to Hope for in 2015
Scott Coolbaugh may be the best thing to have already happened for JonathanSchoop’s 2015 season. The new hitting coach is not going to try to do a lobotomy on the naturally aggressive nature of free-swinging Orioles hitters, but he is going to help Schoop grow to have better pitch recognition and selection. I believe Jonathan to be a willing learner and Coolbaugh to be a significant upgrade in the vein that “fresh eyes” was for the 2014 pitching staff.
Here is an interesting statistic from looking at his splits. In games the Orioles won (81) he slashed .272/.313/.493, whereas in losses (56) it was .115/.138/.148; and 15 of his 16 homers were in victories. All players have better numbers in wins, which stands to reason. But it is unusual to see such a huge difference. This may indicate that Scoop is already beating up on pitchers in trouble, and it is just a matter of time until he improves against those who are more at the top of their game.
More than anything, Schoop has the experience now of a full season and will learn and grow from it. He’ll make modifications, and I believe his talent could take him into the .250s with greater OBP, along with perhaps as many as 20 home runs.
A Perspective to Remember
Schoop just played his 22-year-old season in 2014. He’s a kid … a big strong kid. It is good to remember that he is right now at the point of a player who put in four consecutive years of college ball straight out of high school. Such a fellow would be drafted in the spring and would play short season baseball in the Gulf Coast Rookie League or perhaps with the Aberdeen Iron Birds.
If Schoop had played this past spring in the college ranks, he would likely decimate even the better pitching on the top teams in NCAA Division 1.
Because he is such a big guy, and since he looks older than he really is, it is easy to forget his age and believe him to be older. This leads to some disappointment about the deficiencies such as detailed above.
I was not overly impressed at first with Jonathan Scoop. But I’ve changed my mind on that. Though it is frustrating to see the strikeouts, I believe the potential in this young man is simply extraordinary and the sky is the limit. There is nothing to stop him from having a stellar career; hopefully much of it will be with the Baltimore Orioles.